E-learning - the 21st century path to success

E-learning ñ itís a term you may have heard, but did you know that over one million people in the UK have already used it to transform their lives?

Britain has seen a massive growth in the popularity of internet-based adult education over the last decade, to the extent that it is currently revolutionising the way the countryís population learns.

At the helm of the revolution is learndirect, the Government-sponsored initiative run by the University for Industry, which has helped 1.2 million people since 2000 to improve their workplace skills, boost their employability, or simply try something new.

The programme is delivered throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight by the Fareham-based Hampshire and Solent Learning Hub, whose chief executive, Denise Candy, is fanatical about the benefits of e-learning.

Denise - who has just secured a new two-year contract to plan and deliver the huge range of learndirect courses to more than 100,000 local people - explained: ìThese days we lead such busy lives, juggling family, social and work commitments, that many of us can no longer find the time to attend a traditional evening class.

ìBut learndirect is a perfect solution, because it offers flexible, top quality tuition at a time and place to suit every individual. As the courses are available online, they can be accessed 24 hours a day ñ even in the middle of the night, if thatís when you want to study! That way, parents can learn when their children are asleep, and employees can learn during their lunch hours.

ìAlso, the tuition is provided in manageable, bite-sized chunks, so it can be taken step-by-step, as quickly or as slowly as each learner desires, without pressure from other students who may have different abilities.

ìAnd the courses are extremely affordable, with many actually free. In fact, they are now so popular that across the UK, 20,000 new learners are signing up for them every week.î

The Hampshire and Solent Learning Hubís turnover has soared from 60,000 in its first year, to an incredible 7.2 million less than four years later, due to the massive growth of e-learning across the region.

Over 500 courses are now available, ranging from basic skills such as literacy and numeracy, all the way up to postgraduate degrees, in subjects such as IT, management, environmental services and multimedia.

However, if learners do not have a computer of their own, the courses can also be accessed from workplaces, or one of more than 50 learndirect centres, such as colleges and libraries, throughout the local area.

And if problems arise, nobody has to struggle alone, as all learners are allocated an online tutor who can provide support and feedback, as well as being able to contact other students on their course via email.

Denise went on: ìLearners donít need IT qualifications ñ or even any computer experience ñ to start a course, as staff at the centres can provide all the help they need.

ìMany people have bad memories of school and teachers, so learndirect is great for them, as it is completely different from the experiences they had as teenagers.

ìE-learning is making an enormous contribution to reducing the huge gap in basic skills, such as reading and writing, which currently exists in the UK ñ so its continuing success can only benefit both the country and its people.î

To find your nearest learndirect centre, or to access advice on choosing the right course for you, contact the learndirect national learning advice line on 0800 100 900, or visit